Customer ratings & reviews

Secure your internet use a virtual private network

Posted 10 months ago

nickcal

Tech Insider Network

Top 100 Contributor

Not too long ago, I had to educate some loved ones about the danger of using public WiFi hotspots. As convenient as they are, they are a hotbed of potential security risks for your personal data. Public hotspots are essentially a shopping mall for hackers. When you are on an unsecured network, like a public hotspot, you are susceptible to packet sniffers, which is like wiretapping on a telephone network except that it’s a way to gain access to personal data through a computer. In addition to this type of security breach, you are also playing the game of chance that the business you are visiting is not monitoring your activity. Take a close look at the image below. This was captured when I was having some work done on my truck. The company notifies its patrons that while they are connected to the public WiFi at their location that “no communication should be considered private” and that communications are “subject to monitoring”. To me, this is a very scary prospect and so I wanted to make sure my loved ones were using a VPN.
VPN stands for Virtual Private Network and it’s a network technology that secures a network connection over a public network. This technology is used frequently by government agencies and large companies to make sure that users are securely connected to a private network. There are many VPN providers out there and it can be hard to determine which service will work best for you.
NordVPN is now my VPN of choice. I recently was a full-time user of Private Internet Access until I started having issues with the service. It wasn’t allowing me to connect to it when I was on certain public WiFi spots. I had those issues enough times that I contacted the company to only get the runaround. What good is a VPN if you can’t use it? This led me to a search for a new service — one that not only would be fast but always work. Some businesses have found ways to block certain VPN services so that when you try to connect to your VPN of choice you’re left with what I had been dealing with while using PIA. This was something that I could not afford to deal with.
After signing up for my plan and downloading the software, I was connected and using a VPN within about 90 seconds. Once you install the software on your system, you simply enter your account information and click ‘connect’. You do have the option to select a specific country of origin before connecting and your VPN broadcast will be illustrated on the map in the dashboard. You even have the ability to select your favorite servers in the dashboard.
When it came to testing, I primarily used my MacBook Pro and was looking to test the speed more than any other feature. I was very impressed that speed didn’t seem to be affected too drastically. I am a happy NordVPN user and I keep it running on my Mac and iPhone all the time. In this day in age, a VPN in a public setting is a must. NordVPN is a very easy to use, online security system. I can recommend it wholeheartedly and think that anyone using public hotspots should use NordVPN.
NordVPN recently started making their services available through retail establishments like Best Buy. I do like that it’s more easily available for more people through retail sales. The one thing I don’t like about this is that there is a huge waste of packaging. As a retail package, NordVPN comes in a full size box that is recognizable to anyone who has searched for software before. I would much prefer that NordVPN provide their retail packaging in something more like a gift card. I just feel that it’s a bit of a waste with the packaging.
NordVPN is a solid option for safeguarding your internet connections when you are in public areas. I can recommend it based off of my own experiences and success while using it when I travel.

I would recommend this to a friend

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ryanmcv

Tech Insider Network

Top 100 Contributor

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

5

VPN for Everyone

Posted 10 months ago

ryanmcv

Tech Insider Network

Top 100 Contributor

As advertisers and criminals deploy more tactics to track your online activity, the need for a VPN is greater than ever. Subscription VPN services have existed for years, but many of them require some degree of technical know-how and have complicated user interfaces. NordVPN has largely solved those problems, allowing anyone to have easy, affordable, and reliable VPN access.
PROS:
- Incredibly simple to install and use on any device. If you've ever installed a software program on a computer or downloaded an app to your phone, you shouldn't have any problems.
- There are tons of remote servers to choose from -- nearly 4,000. You can pick which country you'd like to connect through and the app will sort the available servers based on server capacity and/or distance.
- Fast servers for basic web browsing and video streaming. You probably won't want to use this for gaming or 4K video, but for almost everything else, it's more than adequate. I regularly clock download speeds in excess of 25mbps on speedtest.net.
- The "Kill Switch" feature will automatically block applications from accessing the Internet in case you lose your connection to a NordVPN server. This will ensure that your sensitive data is always passing through a secure connection.
- Dedicated servers for P2P. Some VPN services block or filter P2P traffic, so it's nice to see NordVPN provide these dedicated P2P servers.
- There is a Chrome browser extension available if you don't want (or aren't able) to install the full client software on your computer.
- NordVPN says that they do not keep any logs nor do they share any information with government entities.
CONS:
- The interface can be a bit cartoonish and might be too basic for some advanced users. There are advanced settings available, but they are burried deep in the interface.
- Over the course of a week, I have been kicked off of NordVPN servers a couple of times, likely due to them reaching capacity. It hasn't been a huge issue, but I'm hoping it's not a sign of a bigger problem.
OVERALL:
Don't be fooled by its simplicity: NordVPN is a powerful service that almost anyone can use without issue. It might not be the fastest, and it might not be ideal for streaming huge video files, but it excels in almost every other area. Highly recommended!

I would recommend this to a friend

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Fordman9870

Tech Insider Network

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4

A VPN packed full of features

Posted 10 months ago

Fordman9870

Tech Insider Network

If you don’t like people (ISP) snooping on you, a VPN is the way to go.
I downloaded the client and put in my info and within 2 minutes was up and running (sort of). With military grade encryption, Double VPN which is great. This feature is a game changer!! The first VPN knows your original IP, But with Double, when you log in the IP is changed then on to a second VPN it changes your IP again. So, with this tunneling, this adds a second layer of secrecy. And CyberSec which blocks malware and adds, is a new feature that separates itself from other VPNs.
This is one of the best Optioned VPNs out there.
Before I connected my average was: 70 down and 6 up. When I connected My Speeds were 8 mb down and 5 up. I was very disappointed. So (as the help section on the site suggests) I switched VPN areas from the US to Greece, Canada, Mexico, and Russia. This slowed my speed down more. So, I switched again to Demark and the speeds came back up a little. I tried a few others, the speed was down, border line unacceptable. I noticed at times that loading pages was so slow it timed out but I tried it again and again. Finally, after 30 seconds Google appeared. Then went on to other sites with no issues. I am sure that depending on the time of day there will be slow downs as more people will be signed in. As suggested I tried multiple areas and hosts that had less than 10% utilization. My speed was like being on a rollercoaster, speed up then down, then up…
I hit the Nord help area again and tried what they suggest and this fixed my issues for the most part. I would advise those with issues to go here for help.
After 10 minutes my speed was stable and almost matched my regular speed. I went to and tried multiple sites. I streamed, downloaded, uploaded with no issues. I guess you just have to be patient until you notice speeds are up the start your work. I was very happy with my test after a period of 15 minutes had passed since logging in. It literally changed my opinion.
I logged in to my Netflix account and started a movie, I had issues with this, even on servers that only had 9% capacity, my browser kept timing out. I then got an email from Netflix saying that suspicious activity was found and they automatically changed my password. So, take note this might not play well with Netflix. With my Hulu account, I could start a good stream and had no problems at all.
For best results, I would advise you to find a favorite server that gives you consistent results. For me the US, Canada servers were the best.
I also tested on my Android phone, and the app worked flawlessly and was just as easy to setup as the PC side.
I am giving this a 4 for the amount of options that are useful for VPN users. I would have given it a 5 had my speed been fast right off the bat and not 10 minutes after logging in.
I would recommend this to friends and family.

I would recommend this to a friend

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BobinVA

Tech Insider Network

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4

Easy to install and use

Posted 10 months ago

BobinVA

Tech Insider Network

In today’s world, internet access is essential to everyday living. As we’ve become more and more dependent upon internet access, we’ve come to expect freely available wifi wherever we go. At one time, free wifi hotspots were a differentiator for restaurants, hotels and coffee shops, but now it’s an expected perk wherever we go. But while ubiquitous wifi has been a blessing, its unencrypted nature has also opened up yet another avenue for “the bad guys” to get to our data.
What to do? As I’ve been investigating options, there weren’t many that were realistic. I’ve even resorted to staying off hotel wifi altogether, but that cripples my ability to get things done. One option that was very intriguing was called Tiny Hardware Firewall. The idea is to purchase a small, battery-powered router with VPN software that you can take with you to create a private hotspot for several devices. While I think this is a very good idea, I’m not crazy about the $99 per year VPN fees. I don’t mind paying for the up-front hardware costs, but after that, why should I have to pay such a high price for VPN software?
That’s when I found NordVPN. It’s the highest-rated VPN on several review sites, and has a much more reasonable yearly cost (if you take advantage of one of their multi-year specials). So, I decided to give it a try. In short, NordVPN is effective and very easy to use.
Installation is a breeze. There are clients available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, and Chrome extensions. Setting up an account was quick and easy, and it was a quick download and install for each platform. By default, you can use the auto-connect feature to find a server near you. From there, you get a new IP address and you’re protected! Nord is based in Panama, which is a good thing because Panama is one of the countries that don’t share information on logging. While I’m not using a VPN to anonymize my internet activity, for those who are sensitive about privacy, this is important.
One thing I was initially worried about was the impact of a vpn on my speed. Doing a before/after speed test, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the impact was negligible. After all, a big hit to my throughput speed would mean that I wouldn’t use it. NordVPN only impacted my speed by about 5%, which I think is worth the added protection.
NordVPN also includes some extras, like an automatic kill switch in case you unexpectedly lose your vpn connection. A feature named CyberSec automatically blocks malicious websites, malware and unwanted ads. This is a great bonus.
Setup on iOS devices was just as easy. The only additional step is that you are asked if you want to set up a VPN profile in your settings. Saying yes will allow this to be done automatically, and you’re ready to go. When Nord is protecting you, you’ll see a small “vpn” in the top left corner, next to your connection strength icon.
The one thing that I’d like to see is a better solution for Chromebooks. NordVPN does have a Chrome extension that works just as easily as their other versions, but this only protects your activity within Chrome. Now that Chromebooks support Android apps, those need to be protected as well, and the Chrome extension doesn’t do that. You can get a NordVPN Android app which can protect your Android activities, but this doesn’t protect your web activities. You can manually set up a VPN connection in settings, but newer Chromebooks cannot be set to not use the IPv6 protocol, and NordVPN doesn’t support IPv6, so I couldn’t get this approach to work. ChromeOS is evolving rapidly, so I hope a comprehensive solution for ChromeOS will be forthcoming.
So far, NordVPN seems to be the solution I’ve been looking for. The license allows up to 6 devices simultaneously, which is enough for me to protect devices for me and my wife. I’ll see how it goes in long-term everyday usage, but right now I think NordVPN is the way to go.

I would recommend this to a friend

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nhtechie

Tech Insider Network

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

5

Great features and easy to use.

Posted 10 months ago

nhtechie

Tech Insider Network

This is the first time I’ve used a paid piece of VPN software to control the identity of my browsing. I’ve used the (free) tor browser before, as well as running a Tails VM off of a thumb drive to play around with the Dark Web. Tor browser was easy enough to use, but bookmarks and whatnot don’t make sense if you want to hide what you’re doing, plus there are some interesting things you can find there.
Now NordVPN is a piece of software that installs without a hitch on ChromeOS and Android, as well as MacOS, Windows and other platforms using the quite simple OpenVPN software like you were connecting into the office with a Linux laptop.
The nordvpn.com account portion was easy enough to do, even with an already existing login/password; just go to the URL in the paperwork inside the box & use your existing credentials to have the annual plan activated with the provided code.
My first few uses of the software showed my ‘net speeds dip from 130Mb/s to ~ 260Kb/s -- which wasn’t good AND it was in the US like me. I disconnected and switched countries in the App and over to the UK I went and up to 65Mb/s - much better.
Other cool features with NordVPN, is the Double VPN (Netherlands -> Russia, for example) as well as Onion Over VPN -- to get to the Hidden Wiki, for example. Onion Over VPN skirts the need to use tor browser, for example & you can use whichever insecure browser you want like ( ::cough:: Chrome ::cough:: ) or move to something a little more privacy-centric like the DuckDuckGo browser.
I like the software and it doesn’t seem to bloat me up, whether or not it kills my battery, is tough to say. This is because I rarely do the same activities, use the same apps, etc, to be able to make a solid call.
Do I recommend this? Sure!
Will I renew after the year? Maybe, it all depends on the discounts thrown towards someone to renew.

I would recommend this to a friend

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SwigglesMilam

Tech Insider Network

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

5

Best VPN out there.

Posted 9 months ago

SwigglesMilam

Tech Insider Network

If you are like me you are tired of phishing schemes, hackers, having information collected on you when you visit certain web sites, having that information sold to third parties, being invaded with preselected ads, etc., being wary of accessing public networks for fear of having all of your stored private data stolen by a hacker —in short, BASICALLY having to guard everything that you do with the use of computer technology and the internet.
The best way that I know to combat this is to keep all software up to date and use a strong anti-virus/firewall software. Still, that is not enough to protect your privacy and personal information, so the next layer of security is to install a VPN (Virtual Private Network) on your electronic devices. A Virtual Private Network is just that, it encrypts all data and hides IP addresses by routing your internet access through various VPN servers around the globe providing the user with security, anonymity and the freedom to connect to servers all over the world.
Over the past 10-12 years I have tried at least 3 different VPN providers on my window-based computers and laptops. In each case, my productivity suffered greatly because my computers remained “locked up” and had issues with certain software programs. The VPNs that I have used in the past just didn’t seem to be seamless applications, so I removed the VPN provider and access from my electronic devices but continued to read reviews on VPN providers.
In the past 2-3 years it seems that the negative aspects of computer use have escalated. Every day I receive email and friend request from hackers, and almost every day I receive phony phishing billing statements to my business, etc. I am a REALTOR and architectural designer. I handle sensitive financial information and in the past year have witnessed computer real estate transactions hijacked and property stolen. It is important to me to maintain my privacy, my personal financial information and the privacy and security of my client’s information. My research led me to two top VPN providers with NORD being one of them.
NordVPN installed within minutes with no hiccups at all on my Windows 10 computer. It is very simple to use, and the dashboard consist of Maps, a list of countries with VPN servers and a few settings. I had immediate security and anonymity. It has worked well with all my software programs and electronic signatures for business transactions. It also can be installed on Android or Apple mobile devices. I installed the VPN software on my iphone 7 plus and expected some of the real estate apps not to work because they are tied into security type keys of their own and I experienced issues with this in the past with other VPN providers. All real estate apps as well as all other apps seem to work fine with NordVPN. I then installed the VPN provider software on my ipad Pro, and again everything works fine. There is even a “kill switch” for the internet if needed.
I am very please with NordVPN so far and would highly recommend it to anyone who shares any of my personal aggravations with using the internet. and the crooks that prey on internet users.

I would recommend this to a friend

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Bappy

Tech Insider Network

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4

Good service, very configurable

Posted 10 months ago

Bappy

Tech Insider Network

NordVPN is a Virtual Private Network provider which offers software solutions that allow you to connect to the internet without exposing your IP address or potentially your information to you internet provider and or other organizations. However I am not going to explain the reasoning or concept behind VPN any further. As VPN providers go, NordVPN offers numerous connection servers in a plethora of countries. I have installed and used the Windows and iOS versions and both perform equally well. You have can choose to allow the software to connect to the optimal server within the country you want to use (based on your distance and utilization of the server). You also have the ability to pick and choose the server based on distance and load. In addition you have other options for servers optimized for peer to peer file sharing solutions (P2P/BitTorrent), double hop VPN (to provide a more secure, more difficult to trace connection). In addition NordVPN does not log your activity when connecting to the internet. Bet you didn’t know most internet providers do. I used Netflix from “other countries” to view content not available in the US, I did have a problem connecting to Amazon, apparently they are trying to protect the authenticity of their reviews and also prevent people from seeking alternate pricing on items (did not know their pricing varies depending on market). I did occasionally have problems with performance while using the VPN, essentially connected to a server that became busier as time went on, however generally performance was good, and you always have the option of connecting to a less busy server with the various options you have within the app. The only dislike I had was with the iOS implementation which seemed to be really aggressive with disconnecting you from the VPN during periods of inactivity. I had not run into this as much with another VPN product I had been using. The Windows version also seemed to have a problem running the VPN service on my laptop, although this problem did not seem to occur on my Desktop. Ultimately I had to change a setting on the service to allow it to interact with the desktop. They offer a myriad of tutorials , support options and forums regarding their product. I know the basics in regards to networking, however the options and knowledge is available if you really want to explore. Granted many VPN providers do not let you go “under the covers” with configuring and using their product.
Pros:
- Wide selection of servers and countries to connect to
- A lot of options for VPN type (double hop, peer to peer)
- Reasonable pricing
- Advanced options to connect without using their client via OpenVPN, L2TP/IPSec, PPTP and IKEv2/IPsec
Cons:
- Had an issue with the Windows installation on one machine
- iOS version seems to be overly aggressive in disconnecting during inactivity.
- Servers do seem to reach capacity quickly, some form of load balancing/switching to less loaded server might be nice.

I would recommend this to a friend

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Batlacit

Tech Insider Network

Top 500 Contributor

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

5

Great VPN for experts and amateurs alike

Posted 10 months ago

Batlacit

Tech Insider Network

Top 500 Contributor

These days, securing your online activity against anyone who might be interested in exploiting it has become an increasingly difficult task. VPNs have long been recognized as one of the more effective ways of doing this, as when used correctly they can provide nearly completely anonymous browsing, but finding a good one is a lot harder than you might think. Some keep their own logs of user activity, which can end up being sold off to the exact same people you're trying to avoid having that data. Others can suffer from unreliable or highly congested connections thanks to not having enough servers to meet demand. And some are fine, but require too much technical knowledge for a layman to use properly.
NordVPN, through use of sometimes gratuitous technical overkill and a surprisingly straightforward interface, seems very well protected against all three of these concerns. The box advertises that setting it up is as simple as creating an account and flipping a switch on an app, and they aren't lying. And yet it still provides a wealth of advanced tools for the more technically inclined to set up the precise VPN setup they need for specific applications. And it does all of this without maintaining any logs whatsoever of your activity.
There are a few hurdles to overcome when using it, mostly related to the fact that it's somewhat overzealous by design when it comes to security. Any website or service which checks against the physical location of the servers making login requests as a security precaution is likely to flag your activity as suspicious when you login through the VPN, and unless you take steps to make sure that you're always using the same proxy it's likely that you'll get these repeatedly since it tends to rotate you around whatever country you happen to be in. It'll also try its best to block anything which it thinks might be trying to redirect you somewhere it shouldn't, and it does throw up a fair amount of false positives which can shutdown even major sites. And while it does its best to minimize the increased lag time inherent with any kind of proxy routing, it's really not hard to notice the loss in performance you get with the VPN turned on. I certainly wouldn't advise using it for much 4K streaming, particularly if your goal is to stream content from another country.
That said, these are problems you are going to have with any VPN service worth having. And if you've already decided that you need a VPN to provide yourself with some added security, having one this overzealous is probably a feature. The only real downside I can name is that it provides so many options that it's very hard to imagine anyone making regular use of all of them, so you're probably going to be paying more for extras you don't need. But speaking for myself, if I'm going to be using a VPN for anything I want it to be one that I could use for everything. And NordVPN is by far the most impressively comprehensive consumer grade option for that I've seen thus far.

I would recommend this to a friend

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jsnkc28

Tech Insider Network

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4

It just works!

Posted 10 months ago

jsnkc28

Tech Insider Network

I have always been concerned about security on the internet and a bit paranoid about it as well. I had always wondered about VPN's and when I got the opportunity to try this out, I jumped at it!
First I will start with the setup. It really could not be any easier! You literally just run the installer program, then you open the program and click the on off switch to turn it on...and that's literally it! In a matter of seconds it is connected and tells you what your new IP address is and tells you that you are protected. If you want to doublecheck you can easily go to one of the online sites that shows you your IP address to verify that it is working (which i did), and it does work!
One thing I was worried about was the performance and it really slowing down my computer and internet speeds. I would say for the average user, you wont notice any slower speeds surfing around on the internet and watching videos and things like that. If you are using this to go a lot of downloading of large files, you will definitely see a bit of a slowdown, but for me, the small amount of speed I lose it worth it for people not knowing what I am downloading.
To put it in perspective I have Charter spectrum internet. Using speedtest I will usually rate about 65-75 Mbps. After connecting to speedtest while connected to this VPN I was at about 45-55 Mbps. So, there is a little bit of a drop, but nothing deal-breaking.
Overall, I am very happy with this product and very glad I got it. If you are looking to be private on the web, then definitely give this a try! You wont be disappointed!

I would recommend this to a friend

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AcurNet

Tech Insider Network

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

5

Simplified Powerful VPN Protection

Posted 10 months ago

AcurNet

Tech Insider Network

The NordVPN client provides simplified powerful VPN protection that follows you everywhere you go. The client is easy to install, and the configuration is very simple. It only takes a few minutes to complete the entire process. Install the VPN client, activate your subscription and enable VPN.
There are a few specific features that makes NordVPN exceptional. One feature is that the VPN protection can scale out very easily by making your router the connection endpoint. Using this method, all devices connected to the router are protected by encrypted traffic from the device to the destination on the public internet.
The other amazing feature is the Kill Switch function. With this enabled, you device blocks network traffic to/from your device anytime the VPN connection drops. You can turn this feature on/off as desired. The Kill Switch can aid in assuring you connection is protected especially when in public places like airports, coffee shops, etc.
The only limitation I experienced with the NordVPN is the bandwidth with on gigabit networks. The maximum bandwidth I could achieve was approximately 50Mbps while on the VPN. If you are on a gigabit network, that is a drastic reduction is throughput, but it is still fast enough to stream UHD movies clearly, and game online, etc. Certainly not a show stopper in my opinion, as protecting your data is more important than raw throughput, and even with a dedicated hardware appliance, it would be difficult to achieve gbps speeds at line rate on a VPN.
I would definitely recommend the NordVPN. I am getting it for my parents/family and renewing my subscription after the 1 year subscription is over.

I would recommend this to a friend

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JMan

Tech Insider Network

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4

Good VPN client at a premium price

Posted 10 months ago

JMan

Tech Insider Network

NordVPN is a nice lightweight VPN client with over 4,000 worldwide servers and some of the strongest encryption around. This particular version simply comes with a key card and download link. I had no problems creating an account and the app is very easy to download, install and use, even for those who consider themselves as non-tech savvy users. The interface is very user friendly and easy to navigate. The client supports protocols like P2P and works with streaming services like Netflix that can be temperamental toward VPN servers. Performance is pretty good when connected to nearby servers, with no noticeable lag while browsing or streaming. Performance varies depending on the server, particularly when connected to any not geographically close.
Unlike some US and EU based VPN providers, NordVPN is based in Panama. By residing outside US and EU jurisdiction, they are not required to provide any info related to VPN usage to either government. As a result, NordVPN says it does not collect any user data for any reason, unlike some other VPN providers.
NordVPN is a bit more expensive, even among the usually less expensive boxed VPN software. Whether or not the premium price is justified is purely up to the user. Some may like the ironclad no logging clause, particularly if the goal is total anonymity regardless of circumstances. Total anonymity isn't merely desired by shady individuals. There are millions of legitimate users who want to use the internet for totally legal and ethical purposes. However, they cannot do so openly due to residing inside countries that censor free speech and web access. For situations like that, NordVPN also has a feature called a kill switch which halts web traffic if the VPN connection is lost. This can prevent potentially harmful data from hitting the open web.
I really like NordVPN and appreciated the chance to try it out along with all the extra security features it offers. I currently only use a VPN for public and shared Wifi, so cost is a definite factor at the moment. I may eventually switch to NordVPN in the future but right now, I subscribe to a cheaper option that's roughly half the cost of NordVPN. When my needs warrant the extra security (and price tag) of NordVPN, it'll be first on my list of potential upgrade candidates.

I would recommend this to a friend

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EricJay

Tech Insider Network

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

5

Easy to Use, Advanced Features

Posted 10 months ago

EricJay

Tech Insider Network

This 1 year subscription in a box for NordVPN was super easy to setup, and is now running seamlessly on my desktop computer, notebook computer, and mobile phone. This product comes in a cardboard box, but the only thing inside is a card with a printed activation code and website address. You'll use that to set up your account, which is super easy. Just go to the website, enter your email address, select a password, and type in the code. That's it. I had an account with a year of service within 2 minutes of opening the box.
Next step is to download the NordVPN client, login with the email address and password used during account setup, and turn on the VPN service. The NordVPN client is available for Mac, Windows, Android, and iOS. I tried it on three of those four platforms, and found the same straightforward look and feel on all three. The interface is intuitive, and makes it easy to tell whether you're connected to the service.
If you don't need to mess with the advanced features, there's the option to quickly connect. For those with more complicated needs, there are a variety of options, like choosing servers based on where they're located (appear to the Internet as if you're coming from a specific country), what special connections they offer (like Peer to Peer file sharing or Onion Over VPN). There's also a double-VPN option, where your network traffic is routed through multiple servers to make it even harder to be tracked.
There's also a Chrome extension, which I was able to use on my Chromebook, but only web browsing was protected. NordVPN supports L2TP/IPSec, however, which allowed me to protect all traffic from my Chromebook. It was a few more steps to set up (there's a tutorial on the NordVPN website), and it's not as secure as using the NordVPN app, but is a lot better than no protection at all.
Any VPN service is going to cause some reduction in speed. I found that NordVPN had moderate slowdowns... around 25% slower than without using the VPN, which is similar to other paid VPN services I've used (and better than most free VPN services).
Overall, I feel like NordVPN offers high quality VPN protection at a reasonable price. The client software is simple and easy to use for a novice, while anyone who needs the more advanced features can find them in the settings menus. Overall, I'm happy with the product and would recommend it to others.

I would recommend this to a friend

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SL7977089

Tech Insider Network

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4

Doing the job as supposed to be!

Posted 10 months ago

SL7977089

Tech Insider Network

I want to start my review with this: YES IT DOES SUPPORT LINUX OS. Even though it is not mentioned clearly! This VPN does support Linux (I have Ubuntu) and it worked well with it.
The application is very easy to use and straight forward. I like the map for selecting VPN server location. While it didn't work well on Win8 computer, it did just fine on Win10 and Ubuntu laptops. The connection is faster than any other VPN I used to use before even when selecting some of the far VPN servers. Switching servers was smooth and with no errors. I use different ISPs, Comcast is usually hard on accepting VPN connections (using some other services) with NordVPN, never failed to connect.
It is doing what a VPN is supposed to do. It is indeed fast and secure (did some tests) but it would be better if it is shipped with a small USB drive that contains the software. I understand that having to download the software is guaranteeing having the latest version but I believe it would be better and more secure if the software/app was delivered in the box.
Chrome extension is good. Running fine with all websites. Even though I prefer to secure the whole connection and not just using a proxy.
I always recommend using a VPN. Not any VPN but something you can trust (not selling your data). If you need one with acceptable/good price, NORD VPN is a way to go.

I would recommend this to a friend

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Marine778

Tech Insider Network

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

5

Solid and secure proxy mod

Posted 9 months ago

Marine778

Tech Insider Network

NordVPN is a virtual personal network or proxy modification allowing you to spoof your location while you are online. There are tons of different companies that make these are there are even a ton of companies that make free ones. But in life we typically get what we pay for right? This is no different.
When you get a free VPN, they bog down your bandwidth. Your browser will go really slow. There are also less options for the selection of location you desire. Typically you are able to pick a continent or country, but nothing as specific as a city or state. So things are slower and you don’t get that many choices, that is the just of it.
When you pay for a VPN, you get much more. This is the case with NordVPN. You can spook your location and when companies try and track you with cookies they don’t get valid data. You are protected. For me, the best part is that I travel overseas a lot. In most of the places I go, they block certain sites (and I am not talking about adult sites). They will block things like Netflix and Hulu, as they are USA based and not allowed in some countries. With this, I can browse USA sites and stream TV shows as if I was in the USA. I love that.
In these same areas, you cannot go on may sites. This will allow me to browse without being seen and again as if I was in the USA.
The good part about this software is the variety of options you can use to spoof your location. This counpany uses VPNs in 62 different countries so there is literally something for everyone.
So based on my experience so far, this is probably the best I have used. I don’t notice much if any slowdown and that is the biggest factor for me. Don’t get me wrong, the encryption is super important and I recognize the value in that. But everyone claims they have military grade encryption. This seems to as well, but it still allows for quick web browsing and this is a good thing.
If you are overseas or travel overseas a lot, this would be a great tool for you. If you need a VPN to browse in secrecy, this is a great one. I recommend it.

I would recommend this to a friend

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stevefromtheburbs

Tech Insider Network

Top 250 Contributor

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

5

Runs great, signing up is not as intuitive

Posted 10 months ago

stevefromtheburbs

Tech Insider Network

Top 250 Contributor

When I got this, I followed the card in which it told me to download the program, which I did. Then, I attempted to sign up, but didn't realize I had to go to a different website address to create an account and put in my activation code that was in the box. So I did that and then it was easier. In fact, I had downloaded from the MAC store first and inadvertently bought a monthly subscription that I cancelled right away, because I was looking for a way to enter my activation code somewhere.
That issue in the rear view mirror, I've been very impressed with the performance so far. It connects each time I open the lid of my MacBook and also when I ask it to connect on my phone. You can scroll to where you want to connect to, and then connect. I picked the USA of course, but it isn't clear what area of the USA that server # 123 or 456 is located. I found it said some servers were overloaded when looking at the list, so I picked others that didn't say that. On the MAC, you can say CONNECT from the icon at the top of the screen and pick USA without figuring out which server to use. That was easy. On the iPhone, I did a quick connect and it figured out to use the USA and connected very fast.
Coming over from a competitive product, I'm very impressed with the performance. I was used to endless attempts to connect when I opened up my MacBook, but now I am very happy seeing NORDVPN connect.
They say that they don't keep logs, keep your info secure, etc. That is good. You do have to register to use the product, which I understand but don't like - I'd prefer to just activate without having to create an account and at renewal time remind me and let me but it from PayPal or whatever.
Performance was awesome - using speedtest.net I didn't find any slowdown from when I wasn't using the VPN - this is a big improvement over the other product I was using. I hope this works out as I expect it will, but so far I'm very impressed in particular comparing it to a competitive product.
Macbook and iPhone performance are excellent - give it a try, you won't be disappointed.

I would recommend this to a friend

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Dan0Sterling

Tech Insider Network

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4

Makes unsecured connections safe again!

Posted 10 months ago

Dan0Sterling

Tech Insider Network

The Nord VPN helps to keep your connections safe on an unsafe internet. You should not count on it to mask your location for streaming services, however.
I’ve researched VPN services a fair bit before trying Nord’s offering. Some were reported as having buggy software, others have limited servers, and a few don’t have a reputation that’s any better than the people you’re trying to protect against! Nord has none of those issues. You just have to consider what you’re getting a VPN for. Nord works great if you’re looking to keep your data from being “overheard” while your at a coffee house or in a hotel on an open WiFi network. It also has servers all over the world which will allow you access to SOME sites which restrict themselves to certain countries. However, with the increased popularity of VPN services has come greater sophistication from sites to determine where you are located and what rights you actually have.
This “intelligence” can sometimes get in the way of sites functioning properly. I had difficulty using Amazon for shopping as well as some smaller e-commerce sites. They either failed to load at all or loaded with missing pictures and other elements. I have a very fast connection at home (Verizon Gigabit). I noticed no lag in downloads or general web performance other than certain elements not loading.
I would put Nord VPN above average in terms of the number of servers and the options associated with them. You can choose a service based on what’s near or based on services such as an ability to strip out ads, Onion encryption which masks the final destination by hopping through multiple nodes, or Double VPN encryption. These are not services which everyone needs. Those who need them will find Nord VPN not only easy to use, but easy on the wallet, as well with very competitively priced subscription options. There are many worse options, but nothing which is much better.

I would recommend this to a friend

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RinTinTin

Tech Insider Network

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

5

A must have

Posted 10 months ago

RinTinTin

Tech Insider Network

I have had the pleasure of using NordVPN as a new user. I have heard of vpns but heard that they were tricky and difficult. I was nervous about using one, however I heard great things about NordVpn. After several years of reading on it I finally decided to take the plunge. The set up was simple enough I ran into a hiccup with the site to activate not initially loading then I had did the steps out of order. I had downloaded the app and created an account first. Then when the site finally worked it was asking to create an account. It still worked when I entered the information I had already set up. I would just make sure to do the steps in order to avoid the bit of confusion. All in all it was simple enough. The box with the code and starter guide is written in a very user friendly way. I do think that the packing is overkill and not necessary, it can be minimized.
I am using it on my macbook pro 2013 and iphone 7 plus at the time. I will install it on my windows pcs after awhile once I get used to it. It can be installed on up to 6 different devices which i think is an amazing amount of devices! I love that its not limited to 3 these days i have way more than 3 devices in my household, so hats off to NordVpn for being awesome about the amount of devices.
The app is clean and has a quick connect option to make it simple to get on and get started. If you want to tweak it and get a little more into it you can. There is initially 4 location options to pick from but you can pic to show more servers. You select the server you want then quick connection option, it thinks then connects and your good to go. The app shows the ip your connected to and has a disconnect option for when you ready to disconnect. There was a dip in the speed depending on where you select but not enough for me to not use it. It was not enough of a dip to be annoyed.
They have made the app very user friendly, quick and easy to install and the app has a great user interface.

I would recommend this to a friend

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r0kit

Tech Insider Network

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

5

Turnkey Multi-platform VPN

Posted 9 months ago

r0kit

Tech Insider Network

I use VPN to remote into my office for desktop access and transferring files. NordVPN does the job simply and effectively. On automatic settings my upload and download speeds are cut in half (on average using automatic settings). I've experienced even further reduced speeds with other VPN services, but for what I'm doing, I don't perceive any noticeable lag using NordVPN.
For tinkerers, one can manually connect to less populated server and switch to less secure protocols, but my days of tweaking and tinkering are long gone. As as test, I manually connected to a low use server and speeds were reduced by 25%. With average UL/DL speeds around 200/10, having those rates cut in half is still acceptable in my opinion.
If you are using VPN to bypass country limitations for streaming services, then perhaps squeezing every bit of performance may matter to you, but again for my main use of remote accessing my office, NordVPN fits the bill and does so quite easily with just one click to enable across my MacOS, Windows, iOS and Android devices.

I would recommend this to a friend

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FlyingC

Tech Insider Network

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

5

A Network that's Virtually Private

Posted 10 months ago

FlyingC

Tech Insider Network

I decided to try this VPN service for my phone and laptop that I frequently use to connect through various public WiFi locations. I've used VPN clients on work machines before and know they can sometimes be a pain. However, installing and then enabling or disabling the NordVPN on both my Windows 10 laptop and Android phone was super easy. The Android client also shows your transmit/receive rate as well as total data which is nice.
The performance hit wasn't noticeable on either the laptop or the phone. I have a wireless ISP at home where I can normally get 15-20 Mbps, though, so it's quite possible I may see a difference when travelling and connected through a higher-speed network. From what I've read on their web site, there is also no bandwidth/data transfer limit. For those worried about the prying eyes of government, Nord is legally based in Panama so they say they don't have any requirements to retain or share logs.
For me, I think this is going to be well worth a few dollars a month to have a secure VPN option. I like that it's easy to use and easy to see when it's active or not. The ad blocking and malware protection is an added bonus. There are cheaper (and free) VPN services out there, but I've always been reluctant to trust them. I could always be wrong, but NordVPN looks like one of the more trust-worthy VPN services out there.

I would recommend this to a friend

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Steve

Elite Plus Member

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

3

Useful but slow and software is problematic

I came to this from another VPN provider due to the sale and the fact that my year was up with the other provider. Heard a lot about Nord so decided to switch. Not a great idea.
First off, it is much slower than the other provider. Understand that all VPN will slow you down some no matter how robust their servers are and how close to you they are. Even after swapping around servers to find a closer/faster one I was still a lot slower.
Second, the software is problematic at times or maybe it is just NordVPN themselves. If I enable my VPN and start browsing I will find after some period of time that I show connected but I can't open anything. I have to disconnect and reconnect. This same issue exists on two different Windows machines. It also exists on a Linux box where I use OpenVPN for the connection to Nord, which leads me to believe it is their servers that are the problem more than the software. This also has happened on my cell phone as well as when the laptop in question is connected to other networks so I know it is not my local network setup.
All in all this is not a bad choice for someone who just uses Windows and needs a VPN, but it is not a great choice for anyone who wants something that just works and works well.